Is My Puppy Too Young for a Professional Photo Session?
If you've ever looked at your new puppy sprawled out mid-zoomie or caught them dozing off with their favorite stuffed toy and thought, “I wish I could freeze this moment just as it is,” you're not alone. That’s exactly what Hap’s family wanted too.
Recently, I had the chance to photograph Hap, a playful white English Labrador puppy, alongside his people at Indian Creek Park in Rutledge, Georgia. The wildflowers were blooming, the light was golden, and Hap was doing what puppies do best: being fully, joyfully himself. It reminded me just how magical puppy photo sessions can be - and how quickly these tiny wiggly moments slip away.
If you're wondering whether your young dog is ready to be photographed, let me share a little behind-the-scenes from Hap's session and why I think the answer is almost always yes.
“But My Puppy Doesn’t Even Know Sit Yet…”
One of the most common concerns I hear from clients is that their puppy doesn’t have a reliable sit or stay yet. Maybe they’re not leash-trained or still figuring out how to listen when they’re excited.
And that’s completely normal.
Here’s what you need to know:
Your puppy doesn’t have to be perfectly trained to have a beautiful photo session.
Seriously, they don’t even need to come off-leash. I build sessions around what your dog is ready for right now. We move at their pace, allow for play and breaks, and I plan ahead to set your puppy up for success.
Hap’s session was full of zoomies, cuddle breaks, and snack rewards. It wasn’t about poses or perfect behavior - it was about connection, joy, and capturing the little quirks that make this brief chapter of puppyhood so uniquely special.
Tips for a Great Puppy Photo Session
Here are a few things I’ve learned after photographing wiggly young pups like Hap, and how I structure sessions to make them relaxed, fun, and successful.
1. Choose a Peaceful, Low-Distraction Location
Young dogs can get overwhelmed by busy parks or noisy areas. That’s why I love using quiet, spacious spots like Indian Creek Park. Or renting private venues to make sure we don’t have to compete for your puppy's attention in a busy environment full of other people, dogs, noises, and distractions. .
When the environment is right, your puppy can explore comfortably - and we can capture moments that truly reflect their personality.
2. Prepare Ahead of Time
Before your session, I’ll send you everything you need to feel confident: what to bring, when to arrive, and how to help your puppy settle in. Little things like arriving 10 minutes early so they can sniff around and potty make a big difference.
My number one goal during your puppy’s session to make sure we do everything we can to make it a positive and fun experience for them.
We'll also talk about:
Their favorite treats (bringing a few high-value ones)
Toys they love right now
Games that bring out their playful side
Anything they’re nervous or unsure about
The more I know, the better I can tailor the session to them.
3. Keep It Short and Sweet
Puppies don’t have long attention spans, but that doesn’t mean we’ll get fewer images. Quite the opposite. Because they’re always moving and making new expressions, I find we end up with just as many (if not more) meaningful images from a shorter session.
That energy and unpredictability? It’s part of what makes these sessions so full of life. And who doesn’t love a sleepy puppy to nap on the way home from their adventure?
4. Include Their Favorites
If your puppy has a toy they’re bonded to or a treat they go nuts for, bring it along. These little details are part of their story - and they add to the story of our session together.
I especially love capturing your pup with the things they love most while they’re still tiny. One day, you’ll look up at that photo over the couch and remember how little they were.
And how they used to carry that toy around everywhere even though it was as big as they are, or how their ears flipped and flopped when they galloped through the grass.
Ready to Photograph Your Puppy?
Why Puppy Photos Matter
That squishy, adorable, razor toothed stage when your dog is still discovering the world only lasts a few months. From eight weeks old to just eight months later, their look changes drastically - and so do their behaviors, expressions, even how they hold their paws when they sit.
Photographing this stage is about holding onto this short, precious time before they grow into their paws. It’s about bottling up the zoomies, the nose freckles, the way their whole body wags when they’re happy - all the little things that disappear too fast so you can relive them over and over as they grow.
And, so you can flip through the pages of your album and remember just how cute they really are when they are being total teenagers and driving you crazy!
You’ll never regret having these images to look back on. Not perfect, not stiffly posed - just your puppy, exactly as they are.
If you’ve been waiting for the "perfect time" to have your puppy photographed, this is your permission slip: that time is now.
You deserve a session are designed for real puppies - wiggly, playful, sometimes distracted - and I’d be honored to photograph your puppy.
